AssamTea – Land ownership rights finally granted to Assam tea garden workers
AssamTea – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday praised the Assam government for taking what he described as a long-awaited step toward justice by granting land ownership rights to thousands of tea plantation workers. Speaking at a public event in Guwahati, the Prime Minister said the initiative addresses a historical gap that had left generations of workers without legal ownership of the land where they lived and worked.
The programme marks the first time in the more than 200-year history of Assam’s tea industry that plantation labourers are being formally provided land deeds. The move is expected to benefit large numbers of families who have lived in tea garden settlements for decades without official property rights.
Recognition for the tea garden community
Addressing the gathering, Modi highlighted the contribution of tea garden workers to Assam’s economy and to India’s global identity. He said the tea produced by workers in the state has become widely recognised across the world, helping position Assam as a major player in the international tea market.
According to the Prime Minister, the government’s decision to distribute land titles represents an effort to acknowledge the labour and dedication of these workers. He added that the initiative is intended to provide security and dignity to families that have been closely linked with the tea industry for generations.
He also said that formal land ownership will open doors to improved housing and government welfare benefits. With legal ownership, many families will now be eligible for housing support programmes that allow them to build permanent homes.
Distribution of land deeds begins
During the Guwahati event, the Prime Minister officially launched the process of issuing land deeds to eligible tea plantation workers. These workers, who typically reside in housing lines within tea estates, will now be able to apply for legal ownership of the land and homes they occupy.
Assam has an estimated workforce of around one million tea garden labourers, making the initiative one of the largest land-rights programmes targeting plantation communities in the state.
Officials said the process is expected to gradually cover thousands of families who have lived on tea estate land for decades but never had formal documentation establishing ownership.
Release of PM-Kisan instalment
Alongside the land rights programme, Modi also released the 22nd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Through the scheme, more than 18,640 crore rupees were transferred directly into the bank accounts of over 9.32 crore farmers across India.
The direct benefit transfer programme provides financial assistance to farmers in three instalments each year and is aimed at supporting agricultural households with basic income support.
The Prime Minister noted that such initiatives are designed to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve financial stability for farmers and agricultural workers.
Wage increase for plantation workers
The Assam government has also announced a revision in the minimum daily wage for tea plantation workers. A gazette notification issued earlier this month confirmed that the wage will be increased by 30 rupees.
Beginning April 1, workers in the Brahmaputra Valley will receive a daily wage of 280 rupees, while those in the Barak Valley will receive 258 rupees. The wage revision is part of broader efforts by the state administration to improve living conditions for workers in the tea sector.
Large development projects announced
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister attended another event in Kokrajhar in the Bodoland Territorial Region. At the programme, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects valued at more than 4,570 crore rupees.
The projects are aimed at improving infrastructure, connectivity and public services in the region, which has been undergoing development initiatives in recent years.
Centre seeks officers for deputation after visit controversy
In a separate development, the Union Home Ministry has reportedly decided to bring two senior West Bengal officials to central deputation following a controversy linked to President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to north Bengal.
The officers identified include Siliguri Police Commissioner C Sudhakar and Darjeeling District Magistrate Manish Mishra. After the decision became public, the West Bengal government transferred Mishra and assigned him the position of special secretary in the state Home Department.
No official decision has yet been announced regarding the transfer or deputation of the Siliguri Police Commissioner.